Complementary, Alternative and Integrative Medicine (CAIM) Received by Primary Care Health Profession Students in Their Education in the USA: A Scoping Review

This chapter presents a scoping review of the current education on complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM) that future independent primary care providers (medical students, physician assistant students, and nurse practitioner students) typically receive in their education in the USA. A structured search was performed via Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for peer-reviewed publications in the past 10 years (2015–2025), resulting in 32 primary articles. The articles are summarized and discussed, providing evidence on the current state of CAIM education received by trainees in US primary care-eligible programs. Overall, attitude toward CAIM among studies that measured it was positive, with many also reporting students’ opinions that they needed more CAIM education. Nineteen studies delivered nutritional counseling training, for example, for pregnant or breastfeeding patients or those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes. Broader lifestyle education included courses on the risks and benefits of various CAIM modalities as well as experiential learning. Several articles reported program outcomes, including acupuncture and lifestyle medicine training programs for medical students. In the USA, 25 hours of nutrition education is recommended by the National Academy of Sciences, but many medical, PA, and NP programs do not meet the minimum threshold. Education in the other areas of CAIM is likely highly variable and untracked. A baseline level of CAIM education would be beneficial for health profession students before entering the healthcare workforce in order to safely counsel patients on appropriate modalities for specific conditions and potential drug interactions.